Blackpool's £12k Head of Sport Science job branded a 'disgrace'

BLACKPOOL have been heavily criticised after advertising for a Head of Academy Sports Science job with a salary of just £12,000 a year.

The role requires a degree, UKSCA accreditation and experience delivering athletic development and fitness testing. It is listed as 30 hours per week, although some were sceptical about whether such a role could be carried out within these hours.

Mark Gillett, the Director of Performance at West Brom, tweeted: “The salary is a disgrace. No doubt they will try to mitigate about foot on the ladder, but not acceptable in this or any other profession.”

Aiden Oakley, S&C coach at the Aspire Academy, ran a poll asking whether the UKSCA should have refused to advertise the job, and 93% of the 380 respondents said yes.

It was pointed out that a year’s salary in the role would barely have covered a year of the degree course required to do it. Salary levels in sports science and S&C in football are the topic of much debate.

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